Part 6: The meeting
Raghu took a deep breath. He dialed her number and pressed his phone in his ear.
God, why am I doing this?? I have no idea. I am going to meet her tomorrow na?? Then?? I even haven't decided what I am going to say her. She will call me mad.
The phone was ringing and ringing and ...ringing and...
I am doing a mistake. If she finds me creepy or irritating now, then may be tomorrow she won't even want to talk to me. I am ruining my one chance by doing this stupidity. No, I won't talk to her.
He was about to cut his call WHEN...someone picked it up...
HELLO??...
Raghu was shell shocked. His heartbeat almost skipped a beat. His entire conscious got alarmed. It was her voice, THAT VOICE which he heard like hundreds of time in his dreams. That dream voice was not clear, those were like echoes. But this voice is like...He mentally lost the word to describe it.
Hello?? Who is there?? Why are you not talking?? Hmmm??
OMG!!! I have to talk otherwise she will get irritated but WHAT SHOULD I TALK?? Shit!!!
Suddenly he heard a sound from Antara's side. It seemed the sound of her jhumka. She was getting impatient so may be she kept her hairs under her ears and her jhumka...
Why did you call me hmmm?? If you don't want to talk to me?? Look, whoever you are; I don't have much time. So, I am going,ok??
NOOO, she is going. He took a deep breath again and made himself finally ready to talk to her but...
She was gone. The call was hanged up. SHIT!!!
But he couldn't blame her. It was him who was acting like a dick. He called her and was not talking. But he noticed one thing.
She didn't got annoyed. She was polite and talked like an elegant sensible girl. Her voice seemed like a ...music to him. And her Hmmm.' Raghu smiled reviving the whole incident again. Raghu ditched the idea to talk to her in phone because, he sucked at this. He prepared himself to get some sleep and become fresh for tomorrow. He closed his eyes but only one thing that was ringing in his ears was...The Sound Of Her Jhumka!
Singhaniya house: The following day at 5.30 pm.
Avay was in phone.
Avay: Where are you?? I have attended 6 classes and returned home to get ready. Dadi has already been made herself eligible to compete bride and you are still in office??
Raghu: I will reach home by 15 minutes. Don't worry about me.
Avay: By the way, how was your meeting with that taklu Patel??
Avay: It was awesome. He seemed impressed with my presentation. He was happy in the end of our meeting. I think he will sign the deal. You don't take stress. It will take only 5 minutes for me to get ready.
Avay: That's not done. You should take time. After all you have to beat the groom with your handsomeness.
Raghu: Shut up Avay!!! (smiled) Ok, I am almost there.
Raghu reached home and almost ran to his room to change his attire. When he came out of his room, he found Avay satnding with his DSLR and Dadi giggling at him.
Raghu:(was feeling shy) What?? Why are you looking at me like you have never seen me??
Dadi: Arre dekhne de na!! Har roz aisa mauka kaha milta hai?? I always see u in suits and blazers and jacket. Aisa sherwani mein bohot kam bar dekhe hai tujhe.
Avay: Tissue paper layu kya, for you dadi??
Dadi: Chup kar, badmaash!! Let's go.
Raghu: Dadi, I am afraid for the girl now, u know, who is getting married.
Dadi: Why??
Raghu: I think the moment the groom will look at you, wo to gaya!!!
Dadi: Hey God, inn dono ka main kya karu!!!(she blushed)
Raghu and Avay: Kuch nahi!! Ha ha!!!
When they were getting in their car, Dadi felt a hint of tears in her eyes. After all, so many days later, she got to see Raghu laugh. So many days later, he was spending time with his family. So many days later, he let the wind of life touch him.
She looked at the sky and silently thanked God for this moment. She didn't know that this was just the beginning.
Sharma Mansion: 6.30 pm
When the Singhaniyas reached there, the ceremony was on it's full swing. The house had already become crowdy and guests from every where were coming. When the reached in the reception, they were warmly welcomed by a red rose. Watching the rose, Raghu felt a little awkward as if another hallucination was struggling inside him to come out, but he got distracted. A man came and started talking with Savitri Devi Singhaniya, Raghu's Dadi. Raghu and Avay both realized that, the man was the bride's father. The man walked to Raghu and Avay.
The man: Hello Beta!! My name is Devendra Sharma. I am your father's old friend. May be you don't know me but I used to come in your house when you were so young, may be just 3 years old.(he smiled) You have become so big boy. Actually Man!! I come across about your business plans from time to time. Even if I miss a single news about you, your father forces me to get to know that ASAP.(he smiled)
That made Raghu shocked. His father makes his friend to read about him??
Raghu: He does?? I mean seriously??
D.S: Of course. He is sooo proud of you.
Suddenly someone came and called Mr, Sharma. He said-
D.S: Enjoy the ceremony, son and you also Avay!! Aunty ji, I have to leave now. (smiled)
Avay: It's ok uncle. We will manage.
Raghu was still a bit amused knowing that his father talks about him to his friends.
Avay: Hey, what happened Mr. Sherwani?? Come back to the real world. We have a task to do.
Raghu: Yup. But Avay, I have no idea how I will reach her. May be we have to wait unless the dulhan herself comes down to this mandap for her wedding.
Avay: To phir ho gaya kalyan. The situation will be so funny you know-Like dulhan comes, everyone is waiting to watch the shaadi, the groom is looking at her with opened mouth like a magarmach, she reaches mandap, then the wedding takes place. After that everybody switches to rona dhona for bidaii, and WE are lost in the crowd.
Raghu: Then what are you suggesting?? We get crash to her room kya?? She must be surrounded like her friends and family now.
Avay: Why the hell we have to gate crash?? We are guests here. You can simply say one of her family members that we want to see her because we are her father's close friend's family. When Dadi and we go to her; I will make some bahana to take Dadi away from there and you can have her then.
Raghu: I can have her?? OMG Avay...
Avay: I mean, you can talk to her then. But one request, don't hope that she also has been watching you since she is 18. Ok?? Be ready for the worst. And ask her politely. If she is uncomfortable, then leave it there and leave the place, all right??
Raghu: Ok, guruji!! I will do exactly what you have said to me.(giggled)
Avay: Ok, mera bhai!! Ab start your mission. Let's go upstairs.
Raghu and Avay went to upstairs and started searching for her room. And they found it too. There were so many people gathering in front of a room and one just had to have common sense to know the reason.
Avay came forward.
Avay: Hello, is the bride here?? Actually my Dadi wanted to meet her, we are close family friends, you know?? So if it is allowed to see her now then I can call my Dadi.
A girl came forward and said- oh, but you missed her by seconds. She just went in this way to get her mobile signal. She was not getting it inside the room ,so!!!
She directed to the left corridor.
Avay and Raghu started to search in the left corridor. The place was so beautifully decorated. But then, there came a problem.
The corridor became divided in to two ways.
Raghu: I am going to the right and you are going to the left, ok??
Avay nodded and disappeared in the left corridor. Raghu continued walking. This side of house had become sort of isolated because everyone was heading to the downstairs then, as the time of the arrival of the groom had come close. Raghu was feeling impatient again. He opened his top botton of the sherwani because he was suffocating. He was just about to lose his hope to find her, suddenly...
He listened something. He followed the sound and then he saw her...
A girl in red bridal attire was standing in a terrace like place. The entire place was bathing with full moon. Her back side was toward him. She was talking to someone in phone and SHE WAS CRYING...
The girl: Why are you saying all these?? Everyone is waiting for you and you are saying all these things NOW?? Why?? What was my fault??
Raghu slowly walked toward her. She has not seen him yet. She was engrossed in her phone call.
The girl: Don't do this!!! I am begging you!!! I can't bear this!!...If I have any fault, then tell me, I will try to change myself. Please give me a last chance but don't leave me please please!!
Raghu was becoming worried. Is that the groom to whom she is talking?? OMG!!! The groom is not coming kya?? The way she is talking in the phone is really heart breaking. Bechari is ready to change herself to get that moron back. She is so vulnerable now. I can't talk to her about my silly problem now. But what should I do now??
Then something happened. She broke on to her knees and sat on the floor. She seemed shuttered. The phone fell from her hand.
Raghu felt a tremendous urge to go to her and comfort her, but he controlled himself. There should be a family member with her now. She needed assurance that she had no fault in this matter. That moron, who left his bride in the mandap was the guilty, not her. Raghu looked around for any person who was close to her and then he found that girl who told them about her location in front of her room. The girl ran to her and comforted her.
Raghu found out Avay and told him everything. The news spread through the house like a wild fire. And the most strange thing was- The groom's parents didn't know anything about it. When Mr. Sharma called them to talk about it, they were shell shocked. They told that their son left house saying that he was going to salon and then he never came back. Actually the groom's parents were also waiting for him along with their guests in their house. The whole house became silent.
Dadi: Aj kal ke bacche bhi na, itna heartless hote hai!! If he had no intention to marry her or had any doubt about this wedding; then why didn't he say anything before?? Now, not one, but two family's prestige are in danger.
Raghu: You are thinking about Family honor Dadi?? What about that girl who is shell shocked now?? She must have dreamed a beautiful life with that moron, but in split of seconds, everything is gone for her.
The groom's family arrived there. They were also worried about Antara and their son. What was the reason that Sameer Malhotra suddenly backed off and refused to come in wedding?? Neither there was any fight between him and Antara nor he said any reason in phone. He just asked Antara to live her own life and hanged up the call.
The ladies were taking care of Antara. Mrs, Sharma came downstairs and said that, Antara was not saying anything. She loved Sameer so much. She had been waiting for this wedding for so many days. Now, everything is finished for her.
Raghu suddenly felt a hint of pain in his chest hearing all this. He didn't know why. Then...somebody shouted from the upstairs..
ANTARA IS GONE!!!! I CAN'T FIND HER. SHE IS NOT IN HER ROOM.
What??? OMG!!! Raghu looked at Avay. Avay understood what to do. They told everyone to scatter in the whole house in search of Antara. Raghu straight ran to that terrace area, but it was isolated. Damn!! He thought that she would be there.
Every room, washroom, kitchen, lawn,garden, basement- every single place was searched. But she was no where. Mr. Sharma became sick and Mrs. Sharma started crying. It was almost 11.45 pm. The guests were slowly leaving the house. There were only Avay, Raghu, Dadi and Mr and Mrs, Sharma and Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra. Suddenly Raghu said-
Dammit!! We missed one place. Have you checked Antara's car?? Is it in parking lot??
Everyone became alert. Mr. Sharma almost ran to the parking lot to see her car. IT WASN'T THERE.
Raghu: She has already left the house and we were searching her here like a fool for the last two hours.
Mr Sharma ran to the security guard and almost slapped him before Avay stopped him.
Avay: Uncle calm down!!!
D.S: (to the guard)what were you doing here haan?? When did she leave the house?? TELL ME!
The guard: I don't know sir. I am so sorry. I fell asleep and I didn't realize when Antara baby left. When the guests were leaving one by one, I thought that the car must be one of the guests, I didn't pay attention. I am so sorry sir!!!
Avay: We have to search her outside uncle before she does something stupid.
Raghu brought his car to the parking lot and signaled Avay to come close.
Avay(Through the car window) What??
Raghu: I am going toward the town hall market. You go to the opposite direction, I have already instructed Mr and Mrs. Malhotra where to find. And don't worry about Dadi. I have called my secretary to send another car for her. She will be safe in home.
Avay: Ok.
Raghu left.
A distant place far away from town hall market: 1.30am
Raghu was feeling very scared for Antara now. His hope of finding her was decreasing with the passing moments. In the last 1.5 hours, he left no where of this side of the city. He had called Avay, Mr and Mrs. Sharma; Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra numerous times; but they also were clueless. He had already called police and sought their help in this matter. Antara's picture and her car number had been already sent to the nearby police stations. He silently prayed to God, to show him a sign where to find her and at last...
He was waiting in a traffic jam. Just a few meters ahead of him, there was a rail line. All the cars were made to stop by the traffic police because a train was coming. He was sitting in the car praying that nothing happens to Antara. Then he saw it...
Along with the road on which all the cars were standing, there was another road beside it which was under construction and the road was restricted for any vehicle. Suddenly a headlight blinded Raghu. It was reflected on his side view mirror and fell right in to his eyes. He became blind for some seconds. When he adapted to it, he heard a crash. He quickly came out of the car and saw that every single people who were waiting in their cars in traffic jam, had come out too. He looked forward and the view he saw, it made him shiever.
A car had hit the barricade which was refraining the road from the rail line and as it was in a very high speed, it lost the balance and crashed on the rain line in inverted position. The whole car was upside down.
Something told Raghu that, this was important and he ran to that car. He sat down on the ground and tried to take a look in side of the car and then he saw HER.
Half of her face was already filled with her blood. Her head was injured and her entire body was trapped in to that conjusted area which was full of broken pieces of glasses and metals now. Raghu felt that the petrol pump was leaking and any minute, the car would blast. He had a very short time.
He shouted to the traffic police -Please call the ambulance.
Some of the people came forward to help Raghu because he was literally trying to enter in to that inversely positioned car. Her sense was still there. Her eyes were closed but she was trying to say something Though Raghu didn't catch it, but he was determined that whatever happens, he won't let anything happen to her. He was trying to pull her out and in this process, his own hand got stuck under the steering wheel.
Suddenly, he realized that the people who were helping him to get her out of the car, had left the place. Then he listened to it...
He heard the whistle of the train. The car was right on the rail line and if he could not get her and himself out within 1 minute when both of them would die.
Someone shouted to him- Come back. You can't save her now.
The traffic police came to help him to get his hand out of the steering wheel.
I don't want your help Dammit!!! Help her!!! And please do something to stop the train.
The traffic police ran somewhere and came back with a red cloth so that he could show it to the driver of train.
Raghu cupped her face and said- Hey , Antara listen to me!! You have to try to get out of here. I am trying but you also have to help me. HEY, DON'T LOSE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS. LOOK AT ME!!!
Antara slowly looked at him but very soon she closed her eyes again. She was so weak.
Raghu: STAY FOCUSED ANTARA. WHEN I AM PULLING YOU OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, U ALSO HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH ME OK?? U HAVE TO HOLD ME STRONGLY AND PUSH YOUR BODY OUTSIDE. ARE U LISTENING TO ME?? HAAN??
Antara opened her eyes again. Raghu didn't care for his hand. He made his mind prepared for some immense pain and pulled it out. Obviously the bone had been displaced and did he see blood on his forearm?? But he didn't stop. He continued pulling Antara out and suddenly ...
He felt Antara's hand on his shoulder. She was helping him. She was holding him now. Great!!! But a flash of light blinded him again. The train had come too close. The police was showing the red cloth constantly but why wasn't the train stopping??
The police shouted at Raghu: Beta , leave her. I don't think the driver saw me. The train is not gonna stop.
Raghu has pulled her body 70% out of the car. He gathered all of his strength to pull the rest. Only 10 seconds left. After that, the train would hit the rail line along with the car.
Raghu: ANTARA, YOU ARE DOING VERY GOOD. PLEASE 10 SECONDS MORE,OK??
I WON'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU. STAY WITH ME!!!
Now Raghu could feel the heat generating from the train wheels hitting the metal rail line. After that what happened, it almost made all the witnesses shell shocked. He pulled Antara completely out of the car, the same time the train hit the car, Raghu picked her up and ran toward the road, the car blasted and the front boggy of the train got evaporated. Everyone was running here and there because the remaining pieces of the car were falling on the ground after blast but Raghu had no concentration on that. The bride was in his arms and he was looking how peacefully she was resting her head on his chest as if it was her home always. For one moment, Raghu was mesmerized at her beauty. For the first time, he was looking at her this closely. But her blood brought him back to the reality.
Raghu: (softed)Hey, Antara!! I am gonna take you to the hospital. Don't worry, you will be fine, ok??
Antara slowly opened her eyes and looked straight in to Raghu's eyes and said...
SAMEER!!!
Precap:
Antara took his hand in her hand and kissed on it.
Raghu was shocked.
Edited by goodstorywins - 11 years ago
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